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Species Conservation begins at home

Species Conservation begins at home, in our yards. Every day we walk over things we may not see because we are too hurried but if we slowed down and looked we would find below our feet (as discussed in other blog entries here) that there is a whole other World of Adventure below our upright field of view, waay down at our feet and it relies on us for its life and very existence. Why should conserving species not begin at home in our own yards?

My yard is a cacophony of tangled native grasses and plants. I have no immaculate, pampered lawn devoid of life… This half-acre is a vibrant ecosystem that is amazing to get out and explore in. But occasionally, I miss things.. Those little things hiding at my feet. Sometimes it takes a strange little teeny-tiny-PINK flower to poke its head up and saying, like Horton’s friends; “I’M HERE !” This is what happened two weeks ago.

I was walking along in the yard one early evening when I spotted this tiny beautiful little pink flower poking its head up out of the native grass. It was under a Sabal Palm tree in part shade. Just a small mass of low growing thick leaves with two pretty little flowers… Excited, I hit my books looking for an ID. I went back out into the yard to do a survey, could I find any more of the plants? I then did several more surveys. I didn’t immediately see any others so where did this one come from? Did a passing bird, my hiking shoes or pants bring it in to my yard from CREW? or from other places I go hiking? Or did one of my nature geeky friends bring it in on their clothes? It was growing in our sitting area… One thing was for sure, I had to carefully dig it up and pot it so it would not be trampled in its current location, or fall victim of the mower or a nibbling, passing Chihuahua (I have three.)

As I was digging the plant up I noticed a root system larger than the plant composed of some tubers. I was amazed with how large the plant was underground It was an iceberg! I always say, if you want to learn more about Native plants, you have to grow them! Watch them, and live with them. At least that works for me being Dyslexic, I learn and experience things differently. I find immersive, tactile experiences help me to remember and understand things with more depth vis limiting myself to only reading about a subject.

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My section of yard the Pinklet comes from is reminiscent of Pine Uplands, with sandy, well-drained soil (sand) so I wanted to be sure to pot it in the same type medium, from my yard. Not commercial soil. I water my potted plants with rain water – or tap water that I have let sit out for several days. I’ve let this little guy sit out in the rain each storm.. to get that extra Nitrogen boost that rainwater provides. I’m so happy it’s doing well. I’ve provided several images of the plant so you can see its interesting stem and low growth of leaves. The little Pinklet flowers reaching out to the Sun…

I hope the next time you go out into your yard, you take a survey to see who is around… what butterflies, birds and plants. You might just be surprised at what and who you find out in your backyard. Have no Native plants? Visit your local Native garden center and bring some home.

A beautiful little flower – well worth saving from trampling underfoot. I have to be so careful not to step on something unnoticed at the apiary like the first snowdrops and crocuses of spring, or the sudden mushrooms in autumn.